Intensity of supervision and outcome for preschool aged children receiving early and intensive behavioral interventions: A preliminary study

doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2008.04.003

Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Volume 3, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 67-73

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2008.04.003 Get rights and content

Abstract

We asked whether intensity of supervision is associated with outcome in preschool aged children with autism (N = 20) who received intensive and early behavioral intervention. Intensity of supervision ranged from 2.9 to 7.8 h per month per child. A significant correlation was found between intensity of supervision and improvement scores in IQ. Thus, intensity of supervision was reliably associated with amount of IQ change between intake and follow-up. These findings add to the existing literature by suggesting that intensity of supervision together with intensity of treatment, treatment method, and pretreatment functioning are variables that may affect outcome for children with autism who receive early and intensive behavioral intervention.

Section snippets

Participants

Participants were clients of UK Young Autism Project (UK YAP) which is the British replication site for the UCLA International Multi-site Young Autism Project, directed by Drs. O. Ivar Lovaas, University of California, Los Angeles and Tristram Smith, University of Rochester, New York. All children residing within specified locations, who joined UK YAP between Autumn of 1998 and Spring 2005 were included in the study if they met all of the following criteria: (a) a diagnosis of autism according

Results

Table 1 has intake and follow-up scores (including standard deviation and range) on chronological age, IQ, visual spatial IQ, Reynell comprehension, Reynell expressive language, and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. As can be seen in Table 1, mean intake age for the 20 participants completing the study was 34.9 months (S.D. = 5.7). Follow-up assessment was conducted 14 months (S.D. = 6.1) after treatment began. Mean intake IQ was 54 (S.D. = 15.1); mean follow-up IQ was 71 (S.D. = 22.1).

Mean cumulative

Discussion

This study asked whether intensity of supervision is associated with outcome in preschool aged children with autism who received early and intensive behavioral intervention. Intensity of supervision ranged from 2.9 to 7.8 h per month per child. A significant correlation was noted between intensity of supervision and change in IQ scores between intake and follow-up. Thus, intensity of supervision was reliably associated with amount of IQ score change between intake and follow-up. Moreover, the

Disclosure statement

Eikeseth is director and shareholder of NOVA Institute for Children with Developmental Disorders, and clinical and research director of UK YAP. Hayward is director and shareholder of UK YAP. Eldevik is an ABA consultant.

Acknowledgements

We thank Drs. Tristram Smith and Eric Larsen for helpful comments.

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Intensity of supervision and outcome for preschool aged children receiving early and intensive behavioral interventions: A preliminary study

Abstract

Section snippets

Participants

Results

Discussion

Disclosure statement

Acknowledgements

Behavior Therapy

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Bayley scales of infant development

Progress and outcomes for children with autism receiving parent-managed intensive intervention

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Early intensive behavioral treatment: Replication of the UCLA model in a community setting

Developmental and Behavioral Paediatrics

Reynell developmental language scales III

Intensive behavioral treatment at school for 4–7-year-old children with autism: A 1-year comparison controlled study

Behavior Modification

Outcome for children with autism who began intensive behavioral treatment between age four and seven: A comparison controlled study

Behavior Modification

The effects of low-intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism and mental retardation

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Age and IQ at intake as predictors of placement for young children with autism: A four-to-six year follow-up

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

The effectiveness of interventions for children with autism

Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum